New York 69, Chicago 62
CHICAGO, Sept. 12, 2008 (AP) -- Shameka Christon scored 27 points and hit the game-winning 3-pointer and the playoff-bound New York Liberty earned a 69-62 win over the Chicago Sky on Friday night.
Jessica Davenport had 10 points and 10 rebounds, Erlana Larkins scored 12 and Cathrine Kraayeveld added 10 rebounds and five assists for New York (19-14), which had lost its previous two. Christon finished with five 3-pointers.
The Liberty have one regular-season game left before they face Connecticut in the Eastern Conference semifinals starting Sept. 18.
Janel McCarville, New York's second-leading scorer at 14 points a game, missed her third straight game with back spasms.
Candice Dupree scored 18 points for Chicago (12-21). Jia Perkins scored 14 points and rookie Sylvia Fowles added 10 points and three blocks as the Sky fell to 4-4 since the Olympic break.
Christon's 24-foot 3-pointer from the top of the key gave New York a 65-62 lead with 23.2 seconds remaining.
The Sky took a 62-60 lead with 1:11 remaining after Perkins hit a free throw to cap a 10-2 run.
Christon had nine points during a 14-2 run to give New York a 52-44 lead with 42 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Dupree's jumper as time expired in the third cut the Liberty's lead to 52-48.
After a pair of free throws from Christon gave New York a two-point lead, Chicago scored six straight points and led 42-38 with 4:42 left in the third.
